Drum Samplers

cakire82

cakire82

Cake Mire
I have recently re-installed my recording computer except for all the recording related stuff. I figured this might be a good chance to upgrade some of the software that I have. It is a PC with win XP pro and Cakewalk Sonar 8.5 will be the DAW.

I have been using toontrack ezDrummer with Drums From Hell expansion for drum sampling purposes for a long time now and i must admit that it is great. Samples are good and grooves that are provided are versatile and more than enough but I am curious if there is anything else out there that I could give it spin. I have tried Battery 3 and BFD 2 but I found them complicated and hard to use. After all I play guitar not drums.

Again from toontrack there is Superior Drummer with more samples (20GB) and more realistic sound. Anybody tried it before? How does it compare to the ezDrummer. Sound and usability?

Any suggestions?
 
Re: Drum Samplers

I clicked on this link to suggest ezdrummer.
Its what I use, and unless I was going to try and release an album on my own, I do not see any reason to try anything else.
Reason I say that, even though I never listen to my songs and say "wow, I wish I had real drums" or have ANY issues with the drum sound or patterns, If I was going to try and release my songs directly, I would have to at least try to make them sound better. Just like we all do with guitar sometimes. There's nothing wrong with what I have, but maybe it could be better.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

Actually I find BFD 2 to be very easy. You load a Pallette or a Single Groove (presets) or you just start point-n-clicking which drums you want when and where. You can align everything to a grid (up to 128 beats per measure if you desire) or freehand it.

If you select a preset (Pallette with all the related fills, or a single Groove at a time to mix and match your own patterns and fills from various pallettes), then you drag and drop them from the "storage bin" on the right to the Drum Track along the top.

BFD 1 was complicated by comparison.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

DKFH is great. The only thing I like better is Battery, because of its versatility. Battery or the EZD2 series are the way to go, imo.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

DrNewcenstein said:
Actually I find BFD 2 to be very easy. You load a Pallette or a Single Groove (presets) or you just start point-n-clicking which drums you want when and where. You can align everything to a grid (up to 128 beats per measure if you desire) or freehand it.

If you select a preset (Pallette with all the related fills, or a single Groove at a time to mix and match your own patterns and fills from various pallettes), then you drag and drop them from the "storage bin" on the right to the Drum Track along the top.

BFD 1 was complicated by comparison.
Click to expand...

I felt like drum technician when I tried to use it. I was willing put minimum effort for great tone and easy usability.

It definitely looked like a very detailed and comprehensive sampler though.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

Shadow1psc said:
DKFH is great. The only thing I like better is Battery, because of its versatility. Battery or the EZD2 series are the way to go, imo.
Click to expand...

I have tried Battery 3 as well but i found the samples and grooved in DKFH better sounding actualy. What did you mean by versatility?

What is EZD2 by the way? ExDrummer do not have version 2 yet. There is superior drummer 2 though
 
Re: Drum Samplers

wahwah said:
I used mainly Addictive Drums for my instrumental album. I think AD works well when you're looking for something close to an acoustic kit. You can hear them in a mix on most of these tracks.


http://geoffwells.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-my-hands


Cheers...................................... wahwah
Click to expand...

Sounds great man. I mean the songs actually. I had to listen 1971 twice because the first time I forgot to pay attention to the drums. Guitar sound is so juicy and sweet. Loved it. What did you for recording? signal chain?

Drums sound so real by the way. Acoustically speaking. Did you use any additional ADPAKs or MIDIPAKs during production?
 
Re: Drum Samplers

cakire82 said:
Sounds great man. I mean the songs actually. I had to listen 1971 twice because the first time I forgot to pay attention to the drums. Guitar sound is so juicy and sweet. Loved it. What did you for recording? signal chain?

Drums sound so real by the way. Acoustically speaking. Did you use any additional ADPAKs or MIDIPAKs during production?
Click to expand...

I used my old Strat for most of the album, and the amps were either an '83 Fender Super Champ or a custom made combo called a RockBender. Various pedals for drive when needed, including an Ulbrick 12AXE, Landgraff DO and an early MI Blue Boy. Mics were either a Beta 57 or a Heil PR-30. Metric Halo ULN-2 audio interface into Logic Pro. Some tracks are just the amp sims in Logic.

I have the Retro Adpak and the Ludwig stuff, some of which I probably used on 1971. For the grooves I would usually drag and drop something close and then edit it to suit the track, or build something up from scratch playing in from a MIDI keyboard. Same with the fills. Addictive is quick and easy to use, to get a template for the song up and running, and then almost limitless options for deeper editing. All of the effects in the mixer, including the compression, eq and tape saturation are designed by PSP, so they sound great. Highly recommended.




Cheers........................................... wahwah
 
Re: Drum Samplers

wahwah said:
I used my old Strat for most of the album, and the amps were either an '83 Fender Super Champ or a custom made combo called a RockBender. Various pedals for drive when needed, including an Ulbrick 12AXE, Landgraff DO and an early MI Blue Boy. Mics were either a Beta 57 or a Heil PR-30. Metric Halo ULN-2 audio interface into Logic Pro. Some tracks are just the amp sims in Logic.

I have the Retro Adpak and the Ludwig stuff, some of which I probably used on 1971. For the grooves I would usually drag and drop something close and then edit it to suit the track, or build something up from scratch playing in from a MIDI keyboard. Same with the fills. Addictive is quick and easy to use, to get a template for the song up and running, and then almost limitless options for deeper editing. All of the effects in the mixer, including the compression, eq and tape saturation are designed by PSP, so they sound great. Highly recommended.




Cheers........................................... wahwah
Click to expand...

Sounds great. I will check it out.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

cakire82 said:
I have tried Battery 3 as well but i found the samples and grooved in DKFH better sounding actualy. What did you mean by versatility?

What is EZD2 by the way? ExDrummer do not have version 2 yet. There is superior drummer 2 though
Click to expand...

Superior Drummer 2 is what I meant. Great stuff.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

When I was comparing DKFH and BFD before deciding, I noticed the DKFH samples had what sounded like hardware rattle, or some excess "pooka pook" sound especially on the double-bass Metal samples. Like maybe the tom supports/racks were rattling. That's when I went with BFD.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

DrNewcenstein said:
When I was comparing DKFH and BFD before deciding, I noticed the DKFH samples had what sounded like hardware rattle, or some excess "pooka pook" sound especially on the double-bass Metal samples. Like maybe the tom supports/racks were rattling. That's when I went with BFD.
Click to expand...

You might have a point here. They always sounded just a touch off. Thats why I am looking another option.

I will give AD a try if it does not work out I will give BFD2 another try.
 
Re: Drum Samplers

I am still a big fan of the loop collections by Spectrasonics. Their plug-in instruments are rather good too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top